How is the UK's ageing population putting pressure on families?

The UK's older generation is growing rapidly. This means those responsible for looking after their elderly loved ones have huge responsibilities, and are being placed under immense pressure. This causes a squeeze on the middle generations, meaning that their earnings cannot keep up with inflated living costs – costs that can continue grow as the dependency of the elderly increases on them.

Our #MakeTimeToday campaign has identified how families can alleviate these pressures on themselves, and how through better communication and understanding of the help available, they can improve the lives of their loved ones during their later years.

We have outlined 4 key areas:

Let's Get Started

Chapter 01

The Tipping Point & Trigger Point

As we’ve explained, our ageing population has resulted in a sharp increase in care requirements.

This is overstretching guardians and leaving thousands of elderly people without the support they need.

Every day, someone makes new sacrifices to provide care for their elderly loved one, and the weight is becoming too much to bear.

This is true across the UK, and we’re heading towards a tipping point, when there will be more people who need support.

The Tipping Point

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Care commitments are increasing...

We’re now spending...

0 hours

every year caring for an elderly relative

That’s a total 119.49 million hours put in by makeshift carers. And this will rise to 200 million by 2050...

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You might not have caring responsibilities just yet. However, care requirements can change instantly.

In one moment, such as after a short or sudden illness, it can become clear that a loved one can no longer live independently. This 'Trigger Point' kicks the care process into action.

Read and download

Understanding and navigating the trigger point

For more useful information on this topic, please download our #maketimetoday guide found on the bottom right hand side of your screen.

or

View chapter 02

The Care Conversation

How do you start and contribute to the care conversation?

Chapter 02

The Care Conversation

Care is a tough subject to talk about – and many don’t even know where to begin. Our survey revealed that people are frustrated. They used the following words to describe how they felt...

Raising the issue of care with a loved one can be unnerving, reviewing options is confusing, and making a choice is frustrating.

The care conversation is a huge source of stress for many... but it doesn't have to be this way.

People faced with making crucial decisions want to make the best choices but many are at a loss as to where to turn.

Benenden gives people the support and guidance they need to start the care conversation, letting you build a healthy communication channel through which the right care choices can be made.

I found the whole care system confusing, with a complete lack of understandable advice.

Read and download

How to start the care conversation

For more useful information on this topic, please download our #maketimetoday guide found on the bottom right hand side of your screen.

or

View chapter 03

Choosing Care

What’s the best option for your loved one?

Chapter 03

Choosing Care

Choosing the right care option for your loved one involves three key steps:

  • Understanding the options available.
  • Identifying the service that your loved one’s needs.
  • Picking the right place/facility to administer this care.

Care options are split into two main categories:

Home Care

(where support is provided in their own property)

Domestic

Assistance in the home with tasks like cooking and cleaning.

Social

Communication and interaction for mental wellbeing.

Personal

Help with maintaining personal hygiene including washing, bathing & clothing.

Nursing

Professional medical assistance including treatment.

Care Homes

(where your loved one relocates)

Sheltered or retirement housing

Shared by several people with multiple staff on site.

Extra care housing

Self-contained section within an estate of residents.

Respite, convalescence and rehab

Care-sharing and recovery programmes.

Care homes (residential homes)

Residential homes with several inhabitants, all of whom have private rooms.

Daycare

Temporary residence for several hours, offering facilities/games/social activities.

Assisted living

Specialist complex with carers on site.

Close Care

Self-contained flats on the same site as a care home.

Care homes with nursing

Like ordinary care homes but with professional medical personnel on site.

Dual registered homes

Residential homes with nursing care.

Just 8% of survey respondents stated they weren’t frustrated by the information available on care for the elderly, with over a third saying the information available is unclear.

Benenden is striving to make things much more simple and transparent, so that the best care options are chosen in each individual circumstance – whether that’s information on choosing the best care option or how this care is paid for.

Read and download

Choosing the Best Care Options

For more useful information on this topic, please download our #maketimetoday guide found on the bottom right hand side of your screen.

or

View chapter 04

Paying for Care

How do you find a way to pay for care? Is there help available elsewhere?

Chapter 04

Paying For Care

The costs of care continues to confuse people, with as many as 57% uncertain about how much they’re actually paying to look after their loved one.

Contrary to popular belief, you may not need to fund care costs alone. Help is available for those who need it – and there are several steps you can take to maximise care money.

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£14,250 or less

Your loved one’s local authority funds (or most) of the care fees

Source
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£14,250 - £23,250

Your loved one’s local authority steps in to offer funding.

Source
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£23,250 or more

Care is self-funded.

Source

Calculating Care Costs

A means test calculates the value of your loved one’s asset and subsequently determines their eligibility for state assistance.

State assistance is also available in the form of grants, including Carer’s Allowance, Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance to name a few.

Safeguarding and Managing Your Assets

Making careful choices with regards to assets can make a huge difference when it comes to funding care, with some of the most popular asset protection/payment methods including:

Deferred payment schemes

Services provided by Local Authorities that allow people to delay paying their care fees

Preparing a will

Creating a document that assigns assets and distributes estates to the right people.

Equity release

Releasing money from a property to use for care costs.

Care annuity

Regular contributions made to a third party who then covers care costs e.g. insurance policies.

Renting property

Raising funds by renting out property to a tenant.

Designating a lasting power of attorney

Choosing a trusted party to make decisions on your behalf.

We’ve outlined all of the above, along with other important information you should know about care costs, in our guide – which is the fourth in our #MakeTimeToday series.

Read and download

Paying for Care and Getting Your Affairs in Order

For more useful information on this topic, please download our #maketimetoday guide found on the bottom right hand side of your screen.

or

View Chapter 01

The Tipping Point & Trigger Point

How do you know if your loved one needs care and how can you help?